Road form



Dec. 22, 1959 J. s. PHILLIPS ROAD FORM Filed Feb. 24, 1958 M PB.

JOSEPH S. PHILLIPS BY CORBET'R MA HONEY.MI LLERBRAMBO #5 W BY ATT'YS.

United States Patent ROAD FORM Joseph S. Phillips, New Cumberland, W. Va., assignor to New Cumberland Metal Products, Division of The Matthew Phillips Company, New Cumheriand, W. Va., a corporation of West Virginia Application February 24, 1958, Serial No. 717,248

1 Claim. (Cl. 25-418) My invention relates to a road form. It has to do, more particularly, with a road form or rail which consists of a plurality of identical or interchangeable sections and which is of the type that is not only used along the edges of the surface to be paved as a form for the paving material but also to support the heavy equipment used in forming the pavement.

Road forms of this general nature are commonly in use and the sections thereof have their adjacent ends connected together in a suitable manner. The connections between the adjacent sections must be such that smooth joints are provided to provide a smooth track for the road machinery and to form smooth surfaces on the edge of the pavement. The connecting members at these joints must not only be of such a nature that they will rigidly and evenly connect the sections together but also must be of such a nature that the sections can be separated easily since the sections are removed from the formed pavement and are used again. Thus, the connections at the joints must be such that the sections may be connected and disconnected repeatedly Without damage to the ends of the sections or the members used to connect them together. These road form sections are positioned along the roadway by means of metal stakes and suitable stake pockets must be provided on the form to cooperate with these metal stakes.

One main object of my invention is to provide a road form consisting of a plurality of identical or interchangeable sections each having connecting means at each end for cooperating with an adjacent section, this connecting arrangement being such that the adjacent form sections will be rigidly connected together in accurate alignment and can be repeatedly connected and disconnected without damage to the ends of the sections and to the connecting unit.

Another object of my invention is to provide a connecting arrangment for adjacent form sections which is such that no parts need to be heavily pounded or battered in assembling the sections.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a connecting arrangement so designed that it cooperates with the main structure of the section to reinforce it and add to its ruggedness.

Another object of my invention is to provide a stake pocket arrangement which will not only serve as a stake pocket but as a means of reinforcing the road form section to increase its ruggedness.

The preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing two interchange able road form sections constructed in accordance with my invention and having their adjacent ends joined to gether in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a detail of the connecting arrangement used in connecting the ends of the adjacent sections showing the outer faces of the sections.

Figure 3 is a similar view but showing the sections disconnected.

Figure 4 is an end view of one of the sections.

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken through one of the sections along line 5--5 of Figure 1.

With reference to the drawing, in Figure 1 I have shown two sections of road form 10 constructed in accordance with my invention and shaped from plate steel of suitable gauge. Each form section comprises a main horizontal flange 11, an upstanding vertical face flange 12 at right angles thereto and an outwardly extending top rail or tread portion 13 at right angles on the upper edge of flange 12. The outer edge of the rail 13 is provided with a depending lip 14 at right angles thereto so that it is vertically disposed. The outer edge of the main horizontal flange 11 is provided with an upwardly turned or angled lip 15.

At suitable intervals along each form section 10, stake pockets 16 are provided. Each of the pockets 16 is formed on an angle brace 17 of inverted channel form. Each member 17 has its lower end angled and welded to the flange 11, as indicated at 18 in Figure 5. The upper end of each brace extends beneath the flange 14 and rail 13 and is angled to contact the outer surface of the flange 12 where it is welded, as indicated at 19. Each inverted channel brace 17 is provided with a transverse upwardly opening slit adjacent its upper end and the rail flange 14 projects into this slit. This arrangement results in increased rigidity of the rail 13 since the lower edge of the lip 14 is supported by the lower end of the slit in the member 17 which will extend through the top wall and down into the side flanges thereof to a predetermined depth.

Each stake pocket 16 is formed intermediate the length of the angle brace 17 and consists of an inverted U- shaped member having its lower edges welded to the top surface of the brace 17. The upper wall of each of these stake pockets is provided with an opening 21 which aligns with a corresponding opening 22 in the main flange 11 and through which the stake 23 may be passed in securing the form section in position along the edge of the roadway. The vertical walls of these stake pockets are provided with aligning transverse slots which are offset laterally relative to the stake openings and which are designed to receive the wedges 24. These wedges, when driven into position, cooperate with one side of the stakes to tightly wedge the pocket and stake together.

The ends of adjacent sections 10 are aligned and connected together by a telescoping connection now to be described. This connection comprises identical sleeves or tubular sockets 25 provided on each end of each section. Each socket is centrally located within its supporting end plate 26 and projects inwardly thereof. Each end plate 26 is of triangular form and is welded at its straight edges to the respective main flanges 11 and 12. Its angled edge is provided with an inturned flange 27 which extends beneath the rail lip 14 and is welded thereto as at 28. Thus, each end of each section will be closed substantially by an end plate 26 which is welded to the two main flanges 11 and 12, as indicated, and will prevent relative bending or distortion of these flanges.

The socket or sleeve member 25 on one end of each section 10 has a tubular or pipe section connecting member 30 slidably mounted therein. This member 30 is provided with a flat actuating ear or lug 31 extending inwardly therefrom which has a rod-receiving opening 32 formed therein. For limiting inward movement of the connecting member 30, an angle bracket 33 is welded in tilted position (Figure 4) at the corner between the flange 11 and the flange 12 a predetermined distance from the adjacent end of the form section 10. This angle bracket 33 is provided with the upstanding stop arm 34 and with the horizontal part 35 that projects towards the end of the section and is provided with longitudinally spaced openings 36 of the same size as the opening 32. It will be noted from Figure 3 that with the member 3% withdrawn into the section 1t) so that the ear 31 contacts with stop 34, the outer end of the member 30 is retracted within the socket 25 in which it is mounted and does not project beyond the end of the section. However, it will be noted that member 3t? cannot be completely withdrawn from its socket 25. The end of the connecting member 30 is beveled, as indicated at 37 to facilitate entrance into the opposed socket 25.

To connect the two adjacent sections together, it is merely necessary to move their adjacent ends in contact with each other so that the two socket members thereof are in substantial alignment. Then a rod, as indicated in Figure 3, which may be one of the stakes 23, is passed through the opening 32 and down into the outermost opening 36. Using the rod 23 as a lever which is swung to the right, the member 30 may then he slid outwardly into the socket member 25 of the adjacent section 10, as shown in Figure 2. To prevent twisting of one section relative to the other, a lock pin 40 is slidably mounted in the end plate 26 of the one section it and is adapted to be moved into an aligning socket 41 on the end plate 26 of the adjacent section, each lock pin and socket being located just within the outer corner of the associated plate 26 and spaced from the axis of the sockets 25.

With the two sections connected together in this manner, the ends thereof will be brought into accurate alignment by the member 30 which telescopes with the opposed sockets 25. The member 30 will just extend through the opposed socket 25, as shown in Figure 2. The end plates 26 will prevent distortion of the ends of the sections and the angle braces 16 will prevent distortion intermediate the ends. The rail 13 will be firmly supported throughout its length by the end plates 26 and the channel braces 16.

When the sections are to be disconnected, the rod 23 may be positioned with its lower end in the innermost opening 36, and then the rod may be swung to the left to move the member 30 from the position shown in Figure 2 back to the position shown in Figure 3. The p'n 40 is also withdrawn from its socket 41. These simple operations Will result in disconnection of the two adjacent sections 10.

It will be apparent from the above description that I have provided a simple telescoping connecting structure which can be operated easily without special tools to connect or disconnect the adjacent road form sections. Furthermore, this connection and disconnection may be made without heavy pounding or battering with sledge hammers which is the usual practice with prior art road form sections and results in serious damage thereto. The connection will be sufficient not only to align the section but to adequately support any load applied to such sections so as to maintain them in alignment. The end plates and the stake pockets arrangements provide for rigidly bracing the horizontal and vertical main flanges in their original relationship and for adequately supporting the rail, especially its lip edge, so as to prevent lateral bending or sagging thereof.

Various other advantages will be apparent.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, the principles of this invention have been explained and have been illustrated and described in what is now considered to represent the best embodiment. However, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claim, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

An interchangeable road form section adapted to cooperate with adjacent form sections comprising a main lower horizontal flange having an upturned lip at its outer edge and an upstanding Vertical face flange disposed at right angles thereto, an outwardly extending top rail on the upstanding flange projecting outwardly therefrom parallel to said horizontal flange and having a depending lip at its outer edge, said rail and said flanges being substantially longitudinally co-extensive, supporting end plates of substantially right triangular form disposed transversely of said form at the ends thereof and having straight lower and vertical edges at right angles and being disposed in the included angle between said horizontal flange and said upstanding flange with its lower and vertical edges secured respectively thereto within said flanges, each of said plates having an angled edge along which is formed a strengthening flange which extends beneath said rail lip and is secured thereto, one of said end plates having a tubular socket bearing member positioned in an opening located centrally thereof, a cylindrical connecting bearing member slidably mounted within said socket member, a stop member on the form for engaging said cylindrical connecting member to permit inward retracting movement thereof within the outer end of the socket member but to prevent inward withdrawal from the socket member, the other of said end plates having a similar tubular socket member positioned in an opening located centrally thereof so that the socket members at the cooperating ends of adjacent form sections can be brought into alignment to permit telescoping of the cylindrical connecting member of one socket member within the other socket member, and a lock pin on one of said plates for slidable movement through an open ing therein which is spaced laterally from said tubular socket member of said plate for cooperating with a similarly located socket opening in the opposite end plate of an adjacent road form section to prevent relative twisting of the two adjacent connected road form sections about the axis of said cylindrical connecting member, said stop member comprising an angle bracket having a horizontal leg secured to said lower flange and an upstanding leg, a lug on the inner end of said cylindrical member which engages the upstanding leg of said angle bracket, said lug having a rod-receiving opening and said hori-' zontal leg of said bracket having a plurality of rodreceiving openings spaced longitudinally of the form to facilitate sliding of said cylindrical member between non-telescoping and telescoping positions relative to the tubular socket member on said adjacent form section.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,676,477 Carr July 10, 1928- 2,138,634 Harrington Nov. 29, 1938 2,297,899 Krueger Oct. 6, 1942 2,663,925 Yates Dec. 29, 1953 2,731,700 Yates Jan. 24, 19:56 2,772,468 Heltzel Dec. 4, 1956 2,799,072 Grundy July 16, 1957 OTHER REFERENCES Article, Form Value, in Engineering-News Record,

pages 150451, June 6, 1957, publishing company, Mc- Graw-Hill Publishing Co., New York, N.Y. 

